X
- 2022
- PG-13
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 43 m
- 2022
- PG-13
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 43 m
Summary When Marine Veteran Brian Brown-Easley (John Boyega) is denied support from Veteran’s Affairs, financially desperate and running out of options, he takes a bank and several of its employees hostage, setting the stage for a tense confrontation with the police. Based on the true story.
Directed By: Abi Damaris Corbin
Written By: Kwame Kwei-Armah
- 2022
- PG-13
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 43 m
- 2022
- PG-13
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 43 m
Breaking
66
4.8
Where to Watch
Summary When Marine Veteran Brian Brown-Easley (John Boyega) is denied support from Veteran’s Affairs, financially desperate and running out of options, he takes a bank and several of its employees hostage, setting the stage for a tense confrontation with the police. Based on the true story.
Directed By: Abi Damaris Corbin
Written By: Kwame Kwei-Armah
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
66
66% Positive
21 Reviews
21 Reviews
34% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 32 Critic Reviews
66
66% Positive
21 Reviews
21 Reviews
34% Mixed
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Breaking is a powerful film that will leave audiences reeling as the credits roll. Corbin and Armah neatly adapted a tragic reality and presented it with grace and understanding, which will hopefully force audiences to think about the reality they live in.
Superb performances from Boyega and the late Michael Kenneth Williams highlight this sombre, character-driven tale.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 20 User Ratings
4.8
30% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
40% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
30% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 20 User Ratings
4.8
30% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
40% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
30% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
A bit unfair to compare to Dog Day Afternoon, though both are based on true events this is a very different film. This is much more streamlined and it appears to take greater pains to adhere to the facts as known. That being said, it is something of a slow burn, but features some great performances, not only by Boyega and Michael K, but also Nicole Beharie and Selenis Leyva.
Unfortunately, the somewhat pedestrian direction and an underwritten tertiary character played by Donovan prevent the film from rising to its potential.
Even so, watch it for Boyega and Williams.
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Justice ignored is indeed justice denied. What’s more, it’s an open invitation to things easily getting out of hand as the tension behind this is dialed up to an exaggerated level. That’s precisely what happens in this taut, fact-based drama about Iraq War veteran Brian Brown-Easley (John Boyega), whose VA disability benefits got lost in the bureaucracy and left him homeless and desperate – so much so that he took drastic measures to inform the public about his situation and that of many of his peers. Director Abi Damaris Corbin’s second feature outing (f/k/a “892”), reminiscent of the classic epic “Dog Day Afternoon” (1975), is a riveting, albeit disturbing, watch from start to finish, casting a long shadow of shame on those who lack the decency and humanity to care for those who made the effort to care for us. The picture’s stellar ensemble cast, which captured the 2022 Sundance Film Festival Award in this category, is superb across the board, featuring the best portrayal ever turned in by Boyega (who has come a long way from his “Star Wars” outings) and an excellent performance by the late Michael K. Williams in one of his final roles. This Sundance Dramatic Grand Jury Prize nominee is by no means an easy film to screen, but it’s one that anyone interested in seeing justice served should watch – and take action about to see that it’s not denied again.
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When the movie stays focused on the three characters in the bank, it has a taut energy that glosses over some of the bumpier dialogue and easy grabs for emotion.
Despite some narrative and aesthetic reservations, there is an edge and an engagement throughout that make 892 worth a recommendation. Abi Damaris Corbin and John Boyega have done solid work in bringing Brian Brown-Easley’s tragic end to the masses.
Buoyed by a strong, effective performance by Boyega, and even despite its pitfalls, Corbin’s film is a solid debut feature.
The true story, along with Boyega’s amazing performance, prop up what would otherwise be a lackluster thriller. From the trailer, I expected to like it a lot more than I did, but it doesn't do Brown-Easley's story the justice it deserves.
It has so many things it wants to say about the state of modern America, but it finds no suitable or impactful way to say them.
John Boyega is a great job and this story should be told but I wish the presentation was more creative.
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It's a basic thriller, there's not much to take from it, but it manages to keep the tension up long enough, especially with John Boyega's work exploring more emotions than we've seen from him so far.
Part of me couldn't help but think of John Q, but this film gets its identity even when it fails to conclude strongly, and not that I was expecting a happy ending or a clear resolution, but the abruptness of its closing leaves a lot up in the air, though how different is that from everyday life?
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Good performances, middling direction and execution. It’s been done better before (Dog Day, Hell or High Water) but also worse (Cherry).
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The movie was extremely slow. I lost interest after the first 30 minutes. It failed to grab my attention and keep me interested. I don't recommend spending your money to see this movie
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John Q rip-off with a far less talented lead. I just don't think Boyega is a good actor. He was lucky enough to get into the Star Wars sequels, but no follow-up. He simply does not have the gravitas of Denzel Washington and never will.
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Production Company
Salmira Productions,
Little Lamb,
UpperRoom Productions,
EPIC Magazine
Release Date Aug 26, 2022
Duration 1 h 43 m
Rating PG-13
Awards
Annapolis Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Black Reel Awards
• 2 Nominations
